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Current land use
Site 1
Approximately 4 acres of land now cleared of former prefabricated 'Unity' housing. Located to the east and adjacent to the main shopping centre of the village,
Site 2
Approximately 2 acres of land now cleared of former prefabricated 'Unity' housing. East of site 1 and on the eastern edge of the village with open countryside to the Druridge Bay Country Park, (10 mins walk, Druridge Bay beach 15 minutes walk).
Local services
The village is well served with regular bus services to Morpeth, Amble and Blyth with connections through to Newcastle. The nearest station on the main east coast rail line is Widdrington Station 5 minutes drive. The village has a health centre, community centre, vibrant primary school and all local shopping facilities. Castle Morpeth BC have a neighbourhood centre for council services.
Design Approach
Environmentally Sustainable.
Brownfield site.
· New house layouts reuse the former road layout
· New ground levels minimise the ground-works required for service installation.
· Minimise the importation of soil making materials and aggregates to the site by reusing on site materials.
· Timber houses constructed entirely from sustainably managed forests.
· Super insulation to achieve SAP ratings of over 100
· Recovery and reuse of rainwater and grey water to reduce mains water use by 50%.
· Preheating of domestic water supply to reduce by 60% energy demand.
· Space heating minimised through incorporating passive solar design reducing space heating costs by 50%
· Incorporation of natural ventilation systems.
· Use of ultra efficient condensing boilers fueled by gas to reduce the carbon dioxide production to ....tonnes pa
· All materials used in the construction have been the subject of a life cycle analysis to ensure they meet set sustainability criteria for the project, including logistics management to the site.
· All construction materials are made from recycled raw materials where available.
· Community composting and organic gardening provision
· Low maintenance landscape setting providing defensible space and visually stimulating community areas.
· Includes reserved land for wind turbine and photo-voltaic panels (phase 2).
Economically Sustainable
The project
Employ 2 full time people for the two year period
Provides ten local people with one year contracts of employment, above the national minimum wage and training to NVQ level 2 and above.
Purchases materials and services from the local community where available.
Creates and supports newly established businesses.
Supports emerging locally developed technology.
Breaks the mould in economic regeneration.
Site 1
This site will provide fourteen two bedroom homes and two three bedroom homes.
Site 2
The site will provide eight homes. It is available for self build or 'assist build'. Density and layout options have yet to be confirmed. Most of the existing roadside dwellings are to be demolished, This will provide a road frontage. A new road access into the site at the Southwest corner has been suggested by Castle Morpeth as likely to add value to the site and make it more exclusive and attractive to self build. A show home will be constructed during the spring of 2000. The remaining plots will be serviced and available from the summer of 2000
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